1. Native Free Subdomain vs. Custom Domain
ZextaOS provides every coach with full white-label branding sovereignty:
Free Native Subdomain (Included in EVERY Tier)
Every coach—whether on the Solo Coach tier or an Academy tier—receives a free, instant native subdomain out of the box (e.g. myacademy.zextaos.com or coach.zextaos.com). It is live from the second your account is created, requiring zero domain purchases, DNS records, or technical setup.
Custom Domain Connection (Academy OS & Pro Tiers)
If you operate on an Academy tier and own a registered domain (e.g. mychessacademy.com or play.mychessacademy.com), you can connect it directly to your ZextaOS portal. Connecting a custom domain is 100% free of charge—we never bill setup fees or monthly hosting surcharges.
2. CRITICAL SAFEGUARD: Root Domain (@) vs. Subdomain (play, chess)
If your academy already has an active marketing website (e.g. hosted on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow at mychessacademy.com), DO NOT use @ as your Host Name.
Pointing the root record (@) to ZextaOS will re-route your entire primary marketing website to our servers, replacing your existing homepage!
Which Configuration Should You Choose?
If you already have a live website at academy.com, choose a subdomain prefix such as play, chess, or portal.
✓ Your main marketing website remains 100% untouched. Students access the chess portal at play.academy.com.
Use this option only if you bought a brand-new domain specifically for your chess academy (e.g. kingschessonline.com) or wish to use ZextaOS's built-in website builder for your entire primary website.
✓ Your entire root domain points directly to your ZextaOS academy storefront and student portal.
3. Universal DNS Configuration Record
Log into your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, Hostinger, etc.) and add the following single record in your DNS Management Console:
| Record Type | Host / Name | Value / Points to | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | @ (or subdomain like play) | 15.206.65.142 | Auto / 300s |
4. Step-by-Step Guides for Major Registrars
Cloudflare
- Log into Cloudflare and select your domain.
- Click on DNS → Records in the left sidebar.
- Click Add record.
- Select Type: A. Set Name:
@(orplay). - Set IPv4 address:
15.206.65.142. - Important: Set Proxy status to DNS only (toggle gray cloud off) so ZextaOS edge routing can automatically issue your SSL certificate.
- Click Save.
GoDaddy
- Log into your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio and click on your domain.
- Navigate to Manage DNS.
- Click Add New Record.
- Type: A. Name:
@(orplay). - Value:
15.206.65.142. - TTL: 1/2 Hour (or Default). Click Save.
Namecheap
- Log into Namecheap and go to your Domain List.
- Click Manage next to your domain, then open the Advanced DNS tab.
- Click Add New Record.
- Type: A Record. Host:
@(orplay). - Value:
15.206.65.142. - TTL: Automatic. Click the green checkmark to save.
Hostinger
- Log into hPanel and open Domains → DNS / Nameservers.
- Under Manage DNS records, select Type: A.
- Name:
@(orplay). - Points to:
15.206.65.142. - TTL: Default (14400). Click Add Record.
5. Automated Free SSL & Verification in Dashboard
Once your DNS record is added:
- Open your ZextaOS Command Center at Dashboard → Settings → Domains.
- Enter your domain (e.g.
play.mychessacademy.com) and click Add Domain. - Our edge network automatically detects the record, binds the domain, and provisions a free, high-security SSL/TLS certificate.
- DNS propagation typically takes between 5 to 15 minutes worldwide. Once connected, a green “Active” indicator will appear.